Rozzie Reads is a free literary reading series sponsored by the Friends of the Roslindale Library, usually on the third Thursday of the month, in October, December,January, March, and May. The events take place in the community room at Roslindale House at 7:00 PM (for map and directions, see below). The operating committee members are Steve Babcock, Dorothy Derifield, Holly Guran, Mary McCusker, and Vivienne Shalom.

There are two readers, followed by an open mike. Free refreshments. Open to all. Please join us. For more information, contact dorothy.derifield@gmail.com

Biographies of Our Next Readers

April 26, 2018, Friday, at 7:30 PM

A collaboration with the Friends of the Roslindale Library

“The Immigrant Experience” featuring:

Sharon Amuguni

Sharon Amuguni, a poet and graduate student in Emerson’s Civic Media Art and Practice program, has been published in UMass Amherst’s literary journals, Jabberwocky and Butterfield Literary Journal. She’s interested in the ways art, media and poetry can be used to foster dialogue on social issues and revitalize communities. Her work centers on the intersection of resistance, creative production and mental health for marginalized groups.

Barbara Siegel Carlson

Barbara Siegel Carlson is the author of poetry collections Once in Every Language and Fire Road, co-translator of Look Back, Look Ahead, Selected Poems of Srečko Kosovel, and co-editor of A Bridge of Voices: Contemporary Slovene Poetry and Perspectives. Recent poetry and translations appear in Salamander, Solstice and Poetry Porch. She teaches and tutors in the Boston area.

U-Meleni Mhlaba-Abedo

U-Meleni Mhlaba-Adebo is a Zimbabwean American poet and educator who has performed internationally in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Nigeria, Portugal and Ireland. She was featured on “WGBH Suitcase Stories.” Soul Psalms (She Writes Press) was described by David Updike as “written in a fearless female voice tempered with optimism and healing possibilities of love.” Currently she is adjunct professor at Endicott College. For more information: www.u-meleni.com.

Barbara Thomas

Barbara Thomas is a poet and former English teacher whose poems have appeared in The Paterson Literary Review, Lalitamba, Fiele-Festa, Writing Nature, “Greek Institute Newsletter,” and others. She has a forthcoming book, The Last Green Valley, by Cherry Grove Press. Barbara has been active in The New England Poetry Club and The William Joiner Institute where she received Jeff Mayle recognition for her chapbook, Seduced by Sighs of Trees.

2017-2018 Season

September 28, 2017

November 2, 2017

Special Tribute to Marc Widershien

Simone John

D’Anna Fortunato and Gregory Hall

Ruby Poltrak

November 30, 2017

January 25, 2018

Julie McVay

Molly Bennett

Michael Todd Steffen

Paul Hostovsky

February 22, 2018

March 22, 2018

Robert Carr

Paula Bonnell

Mary McCusker

Nausheen Eusuf

April 26, 2018

May 24, 2018

collaboration with Friends of the Roslindale Library

TBA

“The Immigrant Experience” featuring Sharon Amuguni,

TBA

Barbara Siegel Carlson, U-Meleni Mhlaba-Abedo, and Barbara Thomas

Getting to Roslindale House, located at 120 Poplar Street

From Roslindale Square at the Library, go down Poplar Street. The entrance to Roslindale House is about 100 yards past the first corner (Florence Street) on the left. There is generally ample on-street parking on both Florence Street and Poplar street. Please do not park in the Roslindale House parking lot.